HoverCare & Concessionary Travel Scheme

HoverCare

Accessible Days Out

Try Before You Fly Events

Accessible Travel

Hovercare is a free service for any passengers requiring assistance with their travel whether they have reduced mobility requirements or just need a little extra help with their journey. We offer HoverCare cards to customer to help us identify needs of travel and to identify customers who are entitled to special fares. Our full HoverCare product range is available to patients travelling for appointments, visitors to patients and NHS professionals.

Our aspiration is to offer the very best service to all our passengers. Our experienced staff are there to ensure your journey is comfortable and safe.

We work closely with our industry partners, including and not limited to the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) to ensure that we meet our obligations, but at Hovertravel our staff aspire to exceed these and ensure all can travel with ease. In addition we work with local and national advisor groups & charities to ensure we keep abreast of the wishes and obligations of our customers and we always welcome your feedback to allow us to further improve our services.

Travelling with Autism

Jack is autistic and has kindly shared his Hovertravel experience. Click here to read.

HoverCare customers can benefit from priority assistance, to ensure you receive this we advise customers to contact us on info@hovertravel.com or 01983 717700 at least 48 hours in advance of your travel, to ensure we can provide the best possible assistance and care for your journey.

Please arrive at our terminal at least 15 minutes before you intended departure time and make yourself known to our staff.

Terminal Facilities

Wheelchair Accessible terminal

Ramp for boarding & disembarking of the Hovercraft

Accessible counters

Priority boarding upon request

Hearing Loops

Accessible Toilets

Helpful staff

Safe haven/quiet zone waiting area

HoverCare seating in terminals & on board the Hovercraft

Noise reductions aids - ear defenders & ear plug

HoverCare Card

Large print timetables

All Hovertravel staff participate in mandatory Hovercare training

Isle of Wight

Portsmouth & Southsea

Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Take a Ride behind one of our vintage steam locomotives for a special journey back in time. Breathe in the evocative smells of a real steam railway, while your eyes and ears thrill to the puffing and hissing of the steam engine. Settle back in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages and enjoy a unique view of some of the Island’s unspoilt countryside ... or hop off at one of our stations and just watch the trains go by!

Whether you’re here on holiday or are lucky enough to live on the Island, we have some great routes taking you to areas across the Island that you’ll want to explore. There are four seasonal routes, two of which are open-top, so you can really catch the refreshing Island air as you Breeze around the Island!

With some incredible day and night time experiences to be found throughout the season, Robin Hill Country Park is the perfect destination for visitors of all ages. Set in 88 acres of beautiful countryside, the park provides fun, adventure and great family experiences.

Offering a fantastic blend of rides, falconry and adventure play for fun loving families and children, and relaxing woodland gardens, ponds and walks for discerning adults to enjoy, there is something for everyone at Robin Hill.

Delight in the Victorian splendour of Queen Victoria’s family home where this famous monarch lived with her large family and beloved Prince Albert

Marvel at the magnificence of the Royal Apartments including the sumptuous drawing and dining rooms. Don’t miss the acclaimed Durbar Room and corridor with its Indian décor and portraits. Imagine life below stairs as you walk through the Table Deckers' Rooms.Take an intimate glimpse into Queen Victoria’s family life as you tour the nursery and private rooms.

Explore the Island's East Coast on unique electric trains. The combined Hover Liner ticket includes a day return on the hovercraft from Southsea, plus unlimited use of the Island Line trains. The Line runs from Ryde to Shanklin stopping at Smallbrook Junction, Brading, Sandown and Lake.

Visit Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for a truly memorable family day out. Explore historic ships, including Lord Nelson’s world famous flagship HMS Victory, Queen Victoria’s HMS Warrior and the only surviving ship from the First World War’s Gallipoli Campaign, HMS M.33. Take the complementary waterbus to Gosport and explore Cold War submarine HMS Alliance.

Soaring 170 metres above Portsmouth Harbour, the iconic Emirates Spinnaker Tower is a must see landmark for visitors worldwide. There is no better introduction to the city and its' world-famous Harbour. With 3 viewing platforms and the largest glass floor to walk for those with a head for heights.

Portsmouth's award-winning Blue Reef Aquarium offers visitors a dazzling undersea safari through the oceans of the world. With over 45 living displays reveal the sheer variety of life in the deep, from tropical sharks and stingrays to giant lobsters and elegant seahorses. Explore the drama of the British coast, the underwater gardens of the Mediterranean and the dazzling beauty of a spectacular coral reef.

At Gunwharf Quays you can shop over 90 famous brands including Polo Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss and Nike, all set on Portsmouth’s Historic waterfront. From stylish Women's fashion and Men’s sharp tailoring to beautiful homeware and gifts and high performance sportswear all at up to 60% off, this is outlet shopping…and then some. When it comes to dining out, Gunwharf Quays has something tasty to suit everyone. With over 30 restaurants, bars and cafés you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Hovertravels Hoverbus is the perfect way to travel around Portsmouth and Southsea. Not only will the Hoverbus take you to and from the Hoverport at Southsea for your quick and easy trips to the Isle of wight but it will also take you around Portsmouth & Southsea.

The Hoverbus conveniently stops at:

The Hard Interchange which is ideal for:

Onward travel by buses, trains at Portsmouth Harbour Station and coaches

'Try Before You Fly' Events

Following the success of these events earlier this year, Hovertravel is organising two more ‘try before you fly’ dates for autumn 2019. We are opening our terminals and hovercraft to people who want to understand our specific journey experience without having to commit to travelling.

These events are free to attend and as well as showcasing our service, provide invaluable learning opportunities for our HoverCare team. We aim to answer all your questions and capture any feedback from each day.

14th September - Autism Focus

10th October - World Sight Day

Autism Focus

This event is open to those on the autistic spectrum and we welcome individuals, their partners and families, as well as support groups or charities working in this sector.

Our experienced HoverCare Ambassadors will explain the sights, sounds and sensations which occur during a hovercraft flight and will give a detailed guided tour of the terminals and the hovercraft. We have ear defenders and designated safe haven areas in each terminal and have hosted groups of customers on the autistic spectrum several times.

14th September

11:0 - 12:30

12:20 - 12:30 - Hovercraft demonstration

Ryde Terminal

As well as discovering how easy it is to use our hovercraft for travel between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, all visitors will be given a free ticket for two people and be issued with a HoverCare card.

To help us manage the day and ensure the best experience for all our customers, we are asking for visitors to pre-register below.

Contact Us

Name

E-mail

Event

How many guests? (Including yourself)

Consent for storing submitted data

Yes, I give permission to store and process my dataNo, I don't consent to storing and processing my data

World Sight Day

In recognition of World Sight Day, the annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment, Hovertravel will be inviting customers onboard their craft and in their terminals so they can better understand how easy it is to travel with Hovertravel.

There will also be the opportunity meet our staff, crew and pilots, whilst being hosted by our HoverCare Ambassadors. Our teams have been trained in guided boarding and providing assistance for the partially sighted, so we are keen to exchange information on how we could continue to evolve our approach.

10th October

11:00 - 12:30

Southsea Terminal

As well as discovering how easy it is to use our hovercraft for travel between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, all visitors will be given a free ticket for two people and be issued with a HoverCare card.

To help us manage the day and ensure the best experience for all our customers, we are asking for visitors to pre-register below

Contact Us

Name

E-mail

Event

How many guests? (Including yourself)

Consent for storing submitted data

Yes, I give permission to store and process my dataNo, I don't consent to storing and processing my data

Concessionary Fares & Patient Fares

Concessionary Fares

NHS Patient & Visitor Fares

NHS Professionals Fare

West Sussex Cancer Trust

Concession Adult (16yrs+)

Concession Child

Single

£13.30

£6.70

Period Return

(Valid for 90 days)

£24.10

£12.20

Day Return

£16.50

£8.80

Concessionary fares are available for students with a valid NUS card, seniors aged 60 years+ & persons with reduced mobility with valid proof. Valid proof for reduced persons can be found by clicking here.

Not applicable for Blue Card Holders.

NHS Patient Fares

Price (Adult or Child)

Hovercare NHS Day Return

(Wessex Cancer Trust Daisy Bus included)

£10.30

NHS Patient Return

(Includes Hoverbus)

£10.30

Through ticket to St.Mary's Hospital with Stagecoach buses

£12.65

Through ticket to Queen Alexandra Hospital with Stagecoach

£13.90

NHS Patient Single

£7.00

1 Month HoverCare Patient Season Card

£130.00

3 Month HoverCare Patient Season Card

£295.00

10 Travelcard HoverCare Patient

£55.00

20 Travelcard HoverCare Patient

£100.00

40 Travelcard Hovercare Patient

£165.00

NHS Visitor to Patient Fares

Adult

Child

NHS Visitor Day Return

£16.00

£8.30

Earl Mountbatten Hospice Visitor

£16.00

£8.30

Terms & Conditions:

Patient fares are eligible for in, out & radiotherapy patients on production of appointment letter of card for hospital only.

A photograph will need to be assigned to every travel/season card. Hovertravel can take your photo in the terminal.

Our HoverCare card is available for use so customers can receive any extra assistance they may need without even having to ask. It lets our staff know about any special requirements customer may have with their journey.

Customers may request a HoverCare card which will indicate whether they require help with luggage, are a lip reader, whether they need to be seated, or would like help boarding the hovercraft. The HoverCare card can also, if the customer wishes, show that the holder has reduced mobility, autism, dementia, reduced vision or impaired hearing.

Additionally, Hovertravel offers a HoverCare product range with concessionary fares and special fares for patients travelling for appointments, visitors to patients, and NHS Professionals fares, click here for more information.

To Apply:

Simply come into our terminal with your NHS number/Letter/Id and we'll set up your card.